Page 25 of Swim To Me

Oyster card scanned, I patiently wait my turn behind the yellow safety line, enjoying the small breeze from the train tracks even if it is dusty and polluted. I manage to grab a seat – lucky me, in the cramped carriage – holding my gym bag to my chest as we sway along, listening for the Tannoy announcer.

“Now stopping at Marble Arch,” comes the standard RP British voice. “Please mind the gap.” Feet shuffle as we come to a standstill, the hum of chatter falls as a few people slither out onto the platform beyond.

“Doors closing.” And we’re off again.

The routine continues, each time the carriage expelling passengers and welcoming them in, almost like it’s breathing.

“Now stopping at Holland Park. Please mind the gap.” I reach out to hold onto the pole as we trundle to my stop.

Smothering heat kisses the bare skin of my arms in my sleeveless white blouse, as I step away from the tube station, happy to stretch my legs for a few minutes. Being in the draughty, musty smelling underground had only served to make the warmth from outside feel all that more oppressive.

Up ahead, I slide through the doors to the leisure centre, handing my key card to the woman behind the desk to be allowed entry.

The receptionist scans my card with ease and smiles at me from across the desk. “We hope you enjoy the use of our facilities today, Miss Clark.”

I smile back, slipping my key card back into my purse and heading straight for the cafe situated at the back of the building.

It’s slightly crowded; a mother wrestles with her small child, attempting to secure them into a wooden highchair, two men sit together, slurping down protein shakes, another young man sits alone, headphones in, a brightly coloured smoothie sitting in front of him.

I take a seat in the corner, situating myself into the uncomfortable chair and unloading my bundle of manuscripts, pen, phone and battered up granola bar from the depths of my handbag. I quickly order a cup of tea and a bottle of water from the cafe app on my mobile, simply so I don’t look like I’m using my membership like a home office, and pop in my earphones to drown out the distracting noise.

Deliciously cool air-conditioned air licks at the baby hairs around my temples as I double check the time.

Half an hour until my second swim lesson with Grey.

Perfect.

My hot and cold drink order arrives in no time at all, just as I’m slashing through a spelling mistake with the sharp tip of myred ballpoint pen, soothing meditation music drifting through my ears.

I fix my tea exactly how I like it – one and a half teaspoons of sugar, and a large dash of milk – leaving it to cool down as I work my way down the A4 page, careful not to spill or leave a messy tea stain.

When I get to the end of the third page, I reward myself with a bite of my granola bar, the rich taste of decadent chocolate chips bursting on my tongue, swallowed down with a sip of tea.

I blame the cliff-hanger I’m well and truly sucked into at the end of novel one, for not noticing him before it’s too late.

A tap on my shoulder and then Grey is standing in front of me, lips moving silently. The left-hand side of his lips uptick and when I feel my brows furrow in confusion, he points to his own ear.

Oh, shit.

I pinch my earphones, pulling them away from both ears, enough to hear him say, “You’re here early, Delilah.”

His voice… goodGod.

“I-I came straight here from work.”Holy shit, I’m warm again.

He nods, and then gestures to the empty seat across from me. “Can I sit?”

“Of course,” I hear myself say, saliva drying in my mouth as Grey contorts his long body to fit beneath the table. Such a simple movement most of us take for granted, but something I can’t stop watching.

“What are you working on?”

I peer down at the manuscript in front of me like I’ve never seen it before. In my grasp, I clench my pen even harder, until its ridges are digging into my flesh.

“Editing.”

“I can see that.” Grey chuckles. “Are you enjoying it? What kind of novel is it?”

“It’s going to be a fantasy series.” I drop my pen in search of my cup of tea, wrapping both hands around the ceramic and staring at Grey over the lipped rim. “I’m really enjoying it. I can tell this one is going to be really special.”

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